It was an important and highly positive day for UK real estate on Saturday 27th November 2010 when leading property professionals gathered at the Lancaster London Hotel for the presentations of the UK Property Awards in association with Bloomberg Television.

One of these rightly proud winners was Ulster Property Sales which has won awards in the category of Best Real Estate Agency and Best Lettings Agency. The fact that Ulster Property Sales has won two of these coveted awards is proof that Northern Ireland has proved its capability of triumphing within the highly competitive UK property arena.

Much of the judging was carried out by the International Property Awards’ panel of judges at the London offices of Bloomberg Television but entries were also outsourced to leading experts in each particular field throughout the world. This year’s judges included Luke McKend, industry head property markets of Google UK; Peter Bolton King, group chief executive of the National Federation of Property Professionals; Christopher Hall, president elect of FIABCI; Thijs Stoffer, International Consortium of Real Estate Agents Association (ICREA); Fiona Nixon, chairman of the Australia Institute of Architects, Hendrik Nelde, president of FIABCI Belgium; Helen Shield, editor-in-chief of International Homes Luxury Collection magazine and Sven Johns, CEO of the German Real Estate Association.

Peter Feeley of Ulster Property Sales Head Office said when asked about winning these prestigious awards, “Recognition of any kind is always a bonus but within such a spectrum of high level competitors is an great honour.”

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie recently announced plans to invest 38 million for brand new homes in North Belfast.The huge investment will mean that much of the old and inadequate housing will be demolished to make way for new, modern family homes in the Upper Long Streets, Parkside and Queen Victoria Gardens areas.

The huge investment will mean that much of the old and inadequate housing will be demolished to make way for new, modern family homes in the Upper Long Streets, Parkside and Queen Victoria Gardens areas.

Margaret Ritchie said: “I have visited each of these areas and seen at first hand the poor housing people were living in. I made a promise to the residents in each community I visited that they would not be forgotten, and I am pleased that in my last days as Minister, I can now make good that promise.”

A total of 276 old terraced homes will be demolished in North Belfast, under full consultation with the local community.

Minister Ritchie added: “I made it clear when I launched the New Housing Agenda that I wanted to increase both the quantity and quality of our housing. When I launched the redevelopment of the Village I said North Belfast was the next priority. North Belfast is an area of high housing need and this investment will make a significant difference to the lives of so many people living in these communities.”

The Housing Executive will now begin consultation with each of the local communities to discuss and agree an implementation plan for each area. Whilst this work will be phased in over the coming years, Minister Ritchie has provided the funding to start work on the new homes immediately.

Minister Ritchie continued: “I have ring fenced the necessary funding to ensure that work in each area can start at once. There have been enough false dawns for these residents and I was determined that our approval for these proposals had to be backed up with the resources necessary to see them through.

“Despite financial pressures, we are delivering on all aspects of the New Housing Agenda.”

When completed, a total of £38m will have been invested across this part of the city alone to improve housing. Taken alongside separate plans for additional development on Girdwood and Parkside, this represents good news for those in housing need across North Belfast.

In Upper New Lodge (Long Streets) the proposals are to demolish 185 properties and put back 98 new homes on their footprint. In addition, a total of 33 Housing Executive and private properties at New Lodge Road, Duncairn Gardens and Edlingham Street will be improved. Other streets affected by demolition will be parts of New Lodge Road, Stratheden Street, Spamount Street, Upper Meadow Street and Hillman Street. Part of the plan will involve the construction of 46 overspill houses on the nearby Girdwood site for decanting purposes. Total cost is estimated at £26.5 million. The cost of acquisition, clearance and improvement is estimated at £10.9 million whilst the provision of the 144 new homes is estimated at £15.6 million.

In Parkside the proposals are to demolish 44 properties and replace them with 28 new homes. Streets affected by demolition will be Parkend Street, Clanchattan Street and Limestone Road. Total cost is estimated at £6.4 million. Acquisition and clearance is estimated at £2.8 million. New build is estimated at cost £3.6 million. Newington Housing Association is working alongside these plans to deliver several other schemes which will complement this regeneration but not covered by this announcement today.

In Queen Victoria Gardens the proposals are to demolish 47 properties and replace them with 21 new build social properties. Streets affected by demolition will be Queen Victoria Gardens and parts of Fortwilliam Parade. Total cost is estimated at £5.0 million. Acquisition and clearance is estimated at £3.0 million. New build is estimated at £2.0 million.  

The Housing Executive will have lead responsibility for all operational aspects of the regeneration activity and in the next few weeks will be preparing detailed information about proposals and setting up arrangements for consultation with local communities.

Click here to view properties For Sale in North Belfast

A 100m plan to transform the seafront at one of Northern Ireland’s most popular coastal towns will create around 1,750 jobs, it was announced today.

Up to 1,000 posts will be generated in the construction phase of the development fronting Bangor’s marina, with an additional 750 permanent jobs on offer when the commercial and entertainment facilities are finished.

A new 150-bedroom hotel, 60 shops, office units, an outdoor arts venue and a promenade are included in the regeneration plans for the Queen’s Parade area.

Launching a public consultation on the ambitious project, Social Development minister Margaret Ritchie said it would help unlock much of the Co Down town’s potential.

“The regeneration of Queen’s Parade offers a unique opportunity to regenerate Bangor town centre and waterfront,” said the SDLP minister.

A family entertainment centre is also earmarked for the site. The developer Karl Greenfarm also proposes a new pedestrianised street in the town centre with an additional 750 parking spaces.

Aran Blackbourne, Director of Karl Greenfarm, which is shouldering all of the project costs, said: “Bangor has a unique identity in an outstanding setting and we believe the marina has significant potential for an exciting mix of new uses to reinvigorate the waterfront and restore the town’s position as a prime destination with shoppers, families and tourists.”

“A retail-led scheme of this nature will provide a much-needed social and economic boost to the town, and will make a substantial contribution to the local economy by generating jobs and attracting investment to the area.

“We are confident that Marine Gardens will attract a strong tenant mix to strengthen and complement the existing town centre in addition to enhancing both the day and evening economies in the town.”

Houses For Sale in Bangor

New Developments in Bangor

Estate Agents in Bangor

Dunlop Homes site manager Philip McCullough has beaten 13,000 entrants from across the United Kingdom to become Northern Irelands first winner of the Supreme NHBC Pride in the Job Award in the small builder category. Philip picked up the award with the Dunlop Homes team for his work on the Alder Grange residential development in Newtownards, County Down.

The Pride in the Job awards champion homebuilders who are dedicated to constructing homes to an exceptionally high standard.  Winning the ‘Supreme’ Award and beating competition from across Scotland, England, Wales and Isle of Man is a real accolade according to Philip:  “I joined Dunlop Homes as an apprentice joiner in 1982 and from my first day the dedication to quality in the firm was obvious.  It was a very proud moment for our company when we were announced as ‘Supreme’ winners at the ceremony in London.  To be judged the best against thousands of other site managers across the U.K. proves just how dedicated we at Dunlop Homes are to delivering quality homes.”

The Pride in the Job Awards have been running for 29 years and were set up to recognise and reward the best site managers who deliver homes to an exceptionally high standard.  According to NHBC’s regional director for Northern Ireland, David Little, the award is an outstanding achievement:  “This is a huge accomplishment for Philip and for Dunlop Homes.  Simply put – Dunlop Homes is building homes to the highest standards in the U.K.  This is good news for home buyers and the house building industry in Northern Ireland.”

Dunlop Homes is a fourth generation family business based in Bangor, County Down.  The company recently celebrated its 75^th anniversary and is currently working on a number of developments across North Down and the Ards Peninsula.  David Dunlop, Managing Director at Dunlop Homes concludes:  “We are delighted for Philip and the rest of the team – we have a great record with the Pride in the Job awards and have previous regional winners in Stephen Austin and Andrew Dunlop for their work on Alder Grange and Walmer Grove. For four generations Dunlop Homes has been delivering the highest quality new homes to local buyers and we expect to be doing it for another four.”

Click here to view the Alder Grange development

We may be approaching Hallowe’en, but for one young family, having a well-insulated home has meant that one thing they won’t be getting is a fright from their energy bills.

Speaking ahead of this year’s Energy Saving Week, which runs from 25 to 31 October, Fiona Woods who lives with her family at the environmentally progressive Woodbrook eco-village, just outside Lisburn, attested to the benefits of a well-insulated home: “We have been surprised at just how little we have needed to spend on our energy bills since we moved into our super efficient home. The house is really well insulated, which means when we do need to use the central heating (which comes from a shared biomass energy system), the rooms warm up quickly and remain toasty.

“Over the summer, we worked out that in total we only had to spend £20[?] on central heating and warm water. I would definitely recommend that people take steps to ensure that their homes are well insulated – it really makes a difference, particularly in the current economic climate.

“Where we are living now, the kids only need to wrap-up warm when they go outside to play in the park – a well wrapped-up home keeps us warm the rest of the time!”

Noel Williams, Head of the Energy Saving Trust in Northern Ireland, commented: “The Woods family may be living in an exemplar home with great insulation, but any of us can take a few simple steps to make our own homes more energy efficient and very probably just as ‘toasty’, to use Mrs Wood’s expression.

“Every year, Northern Ireland householders waste £90 million because of inadequate insulation and inefficient heating systems in their homes. This is an enormous sum of money, and could easily be cut back.

Mr Williams continued: “Over 25% of the heat in your home could be escaping through your roof. In Northern Ireland, over 500,000 homes have only 150mm of loft insulation or less, and a further 30,000 have none at all. Loft insulation is one of the most cost-effective energy saving measures and is the easiest to install. If you have no loft insulation at the moment, then insulating your loft to the recommended depth of 270mmm can cut your heating bills by £130 a year and save you around 930 kg/CO2.

Mr Williams added: “The Energy Saving Trust is on hand to help people become more energy efficient. Our advice centre can be contacted for free on 0800 512 012 to access impartial and practical advice on how you can save energy, and of course money, today.”

“By performing a few Hallowe’en tricks, like improving your insulation, or turning off appliances, you can get treats such as lower energy bills and a better environment,” concluded Mr Williams.

Top Tips

The Energy Saving Trust’s Top Five Tips to get your home fit for Winter are:

1. Go online, or call the Northern Ireland Energy Saving Trust advice centre and complete a free Home Energy Check. It could save you around £310 a year off your energy bills.

2. There are grants and offers available to help pay for cavity wall insulation and loft insulation- you can search our grants and offers database on line at www.energysavingtrust.co.uk/gid to see what’s available or call the Northern Ireland Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.

3. If your gas or oil boiler is 15 years old or more then it could be G-rated. You can find out if your boiler is G-rated by checking online on the Energy Saving Trust website.

4. Fit a hot water tank jacket and insulate your pipe work. By fitting a British Standard jacket around your hot water tank you can save around £30 a year and around 220kg of CO2. By insulating your primary pipe work (the visible hot water pipes) you can save around £10 a year and around 70 kg of CO2

5. Fit draught-proofing to windows and doors and save around £20 a year and around 150kg of CO2.

Surprising as it may seem – no! Prices rose phenomenally in 2006 and the first half of 2007 in some cases by as much as 80%, it is reported. The reductions since August 2007 have been well chronicled and as the headlines state, by as much as 30%. But simple mathematics show property is still in a positive position for most owner occupiers.

However, some semblance of reason and rationalization has to be brought to the current situation.

Firstly, not all sectors of the market have dropped by the headline rate. Regrettably the first time buyer saw the greatest increases, due in no small measure to investor involvement, and therefore they suffer most in the downturn and this has distorted the overall view.

Secondly, if you have equity in your home (ie, your property is still worth more than you paid for it) and you wish to move home, for the many and continuing reasons which have stimulated the housing market over the years, the new home you buy will have lowered in price as well. It is the net difference that is the all important figure and if you are moving up market in price terms, you may have to borrow less than would have been the case last year and you may also pay less in relevant fees incurred, including stamp duty.

It may be some years before we return to the heady prices of 2007, but isn’t that a good thing?

Remember, on average, we are still paying 3% less than the national average house price, to live in what is still one of the least crowded areas of the UK with a quality of life second to none.

One last point must be made; if you are presently looking for a new home, do not assume you can deduct 30% from the current asking price. Finding out when the property came to the market is important. Most reputable and professional estate agents have been aware of the current downturn for some time and have been valuing and advising current vendors accordingly. The statistics now creating headlines are in many ways old news and calculated from what has already occurred, as is the case with all results.

Let’s all be sensible, accept the situation for what it is and if everyone does so, we can return to the normal prices of 2005, when, in my memory, we were all more than happy to acccept single figure growth.

My last word on the matter, as you would expect from an estate agent, is that few so-called economic experts predicted the dramatic upturn beginning in 2006, nor did they forecast the dramatic reversal starting in 2007. People still need to move house, be it for geographical, family, health reasons, etc. First time buyers still need to buy their independence. Don’t leave it too long to make that move, things have a habit of changing very quickly; you may miss the boat as confidence returns.

John Todd of Templeton Robinson

BT is bringing it all back home as it launched a new marketing campaign that focuses wholly on Northern Ireland. A reworked version of Johnny Cash’s iconic ‘I’ve been Everywhere’ names over 45 local towns, villages and cities, just some of the locations where BT currently offers products and services.

BT travelled over 700 miles across Northern Ireland for the making of the campaign, which is fronted by local BT customers, features BT staff and was created and produced locally. The campaign was developed as a response to customer needs and to reinforce that BT is the only locally based communications provider offering an unrivalled range of products and services including BT Total Broadband, BT Vision and BT Unlimited Anytime to the mass market.

To celebrate the success of this campaign, BT is teaming up with Property News to offer consumers the opportunity to win a year subscription to BT Total Broadband and BT Vision, BT’s digital TV service. To find out more logo onto http://btiseverywhere.com/home/competition 

Pictured launching the BT Everywhere campaign are (l-r) Peter Morris, Consumer Director, BT; Johnny Cash look- a- like Matthew Poole and James Devlin, Head of Business Sales, BT.

Award-Winning Housing Launches Third Phase

Coopers Mill, situated on the Upper Newtownards Road at Dundonald, is an award-winning development offering quality housing with exceptional value for money, so much so the popular community is quickly becoming the most successful new development in Northern Ireland with over 120 houses sold since its launch.

Sales at the village-style development have been soaring despite current economic conditions, attributed to the combination of location, quality of fit out and value for money on offer for homebuyers, particularly popular with young couples and first-time buyers.

The launch of phase 3 introduces a brand new house type – a two bedroom town house, starting at an incredible £115,000. This house offers fantastic value for money and is sure to be a welcome addition to the already impressive portfolio of homes on offer at Coopers Mill. The high specification that one has come to expect with a McGinnis Group home comes as standard. Personalised kitchen selections, contemporary sanitary ware, co-ordinated floor and wall coverings, a gas fire and a superb garden are just some of the items that form part of the turnkey package.

Adam Cartlidge, who has recently moved into a new home he bought with partner, Grace Irwin, at Coopers Mill, comments: “My partner Grace and I are thrilled to own our first home, it’s in the perfect location, literally between Belfast City Centre and Ards. It feels like home already, we are very glad we got settled in time to enjoy the sunshine in our first ever garden, we’re now looking forward to the Summer months ahead. We’d recommend Coopers Mill to everyone as there is a huge variety of house types and prices to choose from, every one of them individual, with landscaping, superior finish, private driveways and gardens, giving the development a real ‘community’ feel.”

Coopers Mill was recently awarded ‘Best Development in Co. Down’ as part of the UK Property Awards 2010 for the UK property market. The Award recognises the UK’s most outstanding projects and clearly acknowledges the quality of McGinnis Group properties not just in the NI market, but across the UK.

The key to the success of Coopers Mill lies in the high standard of finish and the full turnkey specification which comes as standard in all of the homes. This is combined with the quality of workmanship which the McGinnis Group prides itself on delivering with each home. Testament to this is site manager John Logue’s NHBC Pride in the Job Award which he received for his work at Coopers Mill in 2010.

Adam continues: “The McGinnis Group made the whole process extremely easy, from helping us personalise the interior décor, supporting us with specifications and informative agents on hand to answer any queries. It’s such a stressful thing moving house, it makes a real difference to work with trusted professionals.”

The McGinnis Group offers a 10-year NHBC guarantee with all their new homes, as well as opportunities to purchase through the Co-Ownership scheme.

Situated in the East of the City, Coopers Mill is located just off the Belfast – Newtownards dual carriageway. The development is only 15 minutes from Belfast City Centre, five minutes from Newtownards, ten minutes from Comber and two minutes from Dundonald. It enjoys an enviable location convenient to the Ulster Hospital and Stormont with the George Best Belfast City Airport only 15 minutes away.

The location of Coopers Mill also offers many recreational opportunities with an abundance of golf courses nearby, including Knock, Scrabo, Shandon Park and Gilnahirk. Dundonald Ice Bowl, situated close by, incorporates an ice rink, ten-pin bowling, indoor children’s adventure playground and miniature golf. Also on hand are the David Lloyd Tennis Leisure Complex and the Dundonald Omniplex cinema.

Links to schools are excellent with many schools including Dundonald Primary School, Cabin Hill, Campbell College, Sullivan Upper, Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College, Knock and Regent House all easily accessible.

With over 30 years of experience in the local residential construction industry the McGinnis Group is one of the most respected local homebuilders in Northern Ireland. The company specialises in creating affordable, high quality housing aiming to offer homes to suit the most discerning of buyers.

Phase 3 of Coopers Mill will be launching on Sunday May 22nd with a brand new show home. If you are interested in viewing then why not register with the joint selling agents or come down on the day and see for yourself the value for money and superb specification on offer.

For further information on Coopers Mill contact joint selling agents BTWCairns 028 9042 8989 or Reeds Rains on 028 91814144.

View the full range of McGinnis Group developments in Northern Ireland.

Fermanagh is delighted to welcome The Antiques Roadshow on the 30th June 2011 at Castle Coole National Trust, Enniskillen. The event runs from 9am – 5pm and admission is free.

If you have a love for all things old & valuable why not come along…

If one day is not enough and you would like to continue experiencing the natural history & beauty that Fermanagh has to offer, we have put together some fabulous special offers for your overnight break. Further details are up on our website: www.fermanaghlakelands.com

We look forward to welcoming you to Fermanagh…

Belvoir Lettings have just published a report reviewing activity from their South & East Belfast offices in the first quarter of 2011.The offices deal mainly with rental property in their respective areas, and within Belfast City Centre.

2011 has seen a bright start with the volume of properties rising compared to Q4 2010 and the same period last year. Overall activity has been excellent with high levels of enquires indicating a strong demand for rental properties. Coupled with good quality property availability the outlook looks positive for 2011 for the rental sector.

Other findings within the report include:

• Volume of activity strong
• ‘Time to Let’ beats same period in 2010
• City Centre Apartment prices up

Click here to download the full Belvoir Lettings report

House sales have increased during the last three months and are expected to rise further, according to a market survey.

Despite this, prices are expected to remain static or fall because of economic uncertainty, public spending cuts and the possibility of rising interest rates, said the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors study.

Keith Mitchell, senior partner at Belfast estate agents Templeton Robinson, said sellers needed to be realistic about prices.

“Prices went up by 50% and came down by 50% and it has taken a while for the market to accept that,” he said.

He added a lot of old houses had been on sale but not reduced their prices or done so slowly. New builds were being sold at more realistic levels and in some cases there were even bidding wars.

“People are obviously now a bit more cautious. A lot of the attention has been around headline points which can exaggerate the realities in the market,” said Mr Mitchell.

According to the RICS survey, in April most said the number of sales increased during the last three months and was expected to continue rising in the three months ahead.

RICS Northern Ireland housing spokesman Tom McClelland said: “It is clear that the housing market in Northern Ireland remains in a transitional phase.

“Whilst prices are continuing to fall in some sectors and areas, other areas and property types seem to be more stable and to be experiencing higher demand.

“Overall there will continue to be headwinds during the remainder of the year with economic uncertainty, public spending cuts and the likelihood of rising interest rates later in the year for instance.”

Sponsors of the Garden Show Ireland met on a beautiful spring morning with the gardens in full bloom at Hillsborough Castle, to hear about the plans for this years show on the 20th – 22nd May. Now in its 7th year, the Show continues to attract longstanding and new sponsors and all were excited about the event approaching at the end of May.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Garden Show Ireland has staged this unique horticulture event with its own stylish appeal and festival atmosphere. Jenny Palmer, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, Lisburn City Council, says: “Given the tough economic climate that we continue to face I’m delighted that Garden Show Ireland is once again coming to Hillsborough…. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the organisations who continue to support the event to make it the success that it is. After such a harsh winter, the Garden Festival is a welcome weekend in spring with its array of colourful plants and fun activities for families.”

Propertynews.com is in it’s fifth year as a proud sponsor. Julieann Tsang, Marketing Manager of Propertynews.com says, “We are once again delighted to be associated with the Garden Show Ireland and it’s fantastic to see the growth in support for this year’s event.”

Sponsors gather at Hillsborough Castle

(Photograph from L TO R) Joy Bond, NITB; Peter McVerry, U105; Bunny Parsons, Bunny Parsons Photography; Jim McAuley, Translink; Cllr Jenny Palmer, Lisburn City Council; Alastair McIlveen, Northdown Marquees; Jacqueline Gibson, Graham; Julieann Tsang, propertynews.com; Nicholas Crawford, Allianz; Sam Harris, Snoddons; Derek Patterson, The Plough Inn; Michele Jackson, House of Fraser; Mark Kelly, House of Fraser; Lisa McAlinden and Barbara McLeod, Dobbies; Michael Jervis, Third Source; Jill Moore, Premier Inn.

Landlords – Register a property with us before the end of June 2011 and we’ll enter you into our free draw to win an Apple iPad 2!

Some T&C’s apply but really it’s that simple.

Belvoir are letting specialists with over 350 properties under management in Belfast.

To list your property and enter the draw contact Lisa Curran or Craig McCracken at Belvoir Lettings on 028 9022 8409.

T&C’s:

• Properties listed for letting must be located in BT1 – BT16

• Properties must be in good condition and capable of being let

• In the event we find a tenant which you reject without good cause

we will withdraw the entry from the draw.

• The prize is an Apple iPad 2, 32GB Wi-Fi only model, there is no cash alternative.

• The winner will be chosen at random through a draw of all entries received prior to the 30th

June 2011. The draw will take place during the 1st week of July.

• The winner must be available for promotional purposes.

• Belvoir Lettings decision is final

Many estate agents claim to be the best in the field but Pinkerton Murray are the best as voted for by those who really matter, the public.

Pinkerton Murray constantly strive to provide a service that exceeds all of their clients’ expectations, and last Friday their hard work was rewarded when they were honoured with two national awards as a direct result of their efforts.

The 2011 UK Estate Agent & Letting Agent Awards, or the ESTAs as they have become more affectionately known, were presented last Friday at the Hilton Hotel on London’s Park Lane in a lavish luncheon hosted by Phil Spencer of Channel 4’s Location Location Location. The awards were attended by over 500 of the UK’s elite estate and letting agents in a ceremony that truly honoured the best in the business.

Pinkerton Murray went to this years ESTA’s as the 2010 winners of Best Estate Agent in Northern Ireland and Best Letting Agent in Northern Ireland and did not leave this years ceremony disappointed. This year Pinkerton Murray again scooped the prestigious titles of ‘Best Estate Agent in Northern Ireland’ and ‘Best Letting Agent in Northern Ireland with the later being a title that they have for the past four years, to which Phil Spencer said “This win is a competition record for any ESTA Agent”.

Phil Spencer continued “the great thing about the ESTAs is that the judges are the customers and the ESTAs are the most important and valuable awards in our industry. An ESTA is not an easy accolade to pick up, to win one requires a lot of hard work, over a very long period of time.”

Both the Sales and Letting Awards were determined by extensive research carried out amongst all of the clients Pinkerton Murray had interacted with during 2010 and a series of mystery shopping visits.

Managing Director Victoria Pinkerton, explained “Quality industry awards are important, not only do they recognise the hard work and effort that our staff put into their jobs and the quality customer service they deliver, but it is a clear endorsement to any potential customer that Pinkerton Murray is serious about delivering high standards of service in an industry that often receives negative press”

“We feel that this award really justifies our efforts in ensuring our clients’ needs are met and exceeded at every possible opportunity. Having seen the other strong entrants at this year’s award ceremony, including other local estate agents, it makes us feel honoured that our clients hold us in such high regard.”

Over 26,000 votes were received, making the ESTAs the largest survey, as well as the most meaningful award scheme in the industry. Phil Spencer also pointed out that there were no categories for the likes of Best Marketing Campaign or Lifetime Achievement in the Industry “These don’t mean anything to the consumer; the ESTA Awards are purely about the consumer experience.”

Stephen Murray, Director at Pinkerton Murray enthused “To win an ESTA, a firm has to demonstrate a consistently high level of service and, to achieve this, they must ensure that staff follow those standards of efficiency, good communication and transparency. As winners of an ESTA for the forth consecutive year it is those high standards that we produce on a daily basis which differentiates exceptional agents such as Pinkerton Murray from the ordinary agents.”

Richard Johnson, Lettings Manager at Pinkerton Murray continued “In this market a large portion of our daily business is lettings and as a result we are North Down’s busiest agent with our Property Management Department being trusted by hundreds of landlords. When dealing with such volumes of properties it is important that our people and systems are thebest. We have all worked hard to build an enviable reputation in the area for delivering a high level of service to all of our clients and, as these awards are voted for by customers, the people who really count, to be a recipient of these accolades has extra significance for us.”

Jeremy Baird, Managing Director of Managemint – the company he founded while still at University – was named Young Business Person of the Year at the Belfast Business Awards, which were held last Thursday night at a gala dinner in City Hall.

Aged just 27, Jeremy won the award at the first attempt and only weeks after hehad opened his second office in Lurgan. With a head office in Stranmillis, Managemint manages a portfolio which includes high-end, exclusive dwellings for clients as diverse as HBO, members of the Ulster Rugby Squad and CITI Group.

Because of the stiff competition, Jeremy was as surprised as anyone when his name was called out, particularly as the last couple of years have not been good for the property industry or for the people who work in it.

“I think the judges liked the fact that I was still only 27, yet I had progressed so far in a depleted marketplace. Also, I have a vision for the business and provide training for my staff and see their personal development as essential to Managemint’s future.

“I also think business should be fun and that’s why I seek out the type of clients that I have on the books – HBO, for example”.

Jeremy lets and manages many of the properties in the Titanic Quarter, which has been one of the stars of the past year and is now almost 100% let. Indeed Titanic Quarter also walked away with an award on the night for the Best Regeneration Project, collected by Michael Graham.

“With the signature building due to complete in 2011 and the area starting to develop some “hustle and bustle”, people are becoming more and more interested in rental accommodation as an alternative to the traditional mortgage-purchase dominated market”, says Jeremy.

“I identified that trend early on and was able to capitalize on that. There are companies springing up all the time offering a letting and management service, but many of them have no long term vision and will come and go.

The Housing Executive is seeking to renew its portfolio of private rented furnished accommodation. Temporary accommodation is needed for those who find themselves homeless in the Banbridge, Dungannon & South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Craigavon, Armagh and Newry & Mourne Council areas.

The Housing Executive is seeking expressions of interest from both existing and new landlords who would be willing to make available their properties to meet homelessness need. To this end advertisements have been placed in the local press and letters are on their way to existing landlords.

Lorraine Campbell, Area Manager said:

“Homelessness in our society is an issue which will not disappear and unfortunately relationship breakdown continues to be the single main cause. It is therefore essential that the Housing Executive is prepared. We focus on addressing many of the issues which lead to homelessness and in meeting the temporary and long term needs of those who come to us for assistance. We are hopeful that our renewal of the portfolio will assist us in continuing to deliver a good standard of temporary furnished accommodation for those who find themselves in this unenviable position.”

Managemint are running a competition to win a signed Ulster Rugby Jersey and 2 Ulster Rugby Tickets for any new landlord that registers their property with Managemint from April 2011 until the end of June 2011.

To register simply call 028 90 599 599 or email enquiries@managemint.co.uk

Northern Ireland’s Estate Agency of The Year Pinkerton Murray and multi award winning mortgage advisors One Stop Mortgage Shop have collaborated in an effort to make moving home as hassle free as possible.

Pinkerton Murray has seen continued success since opening their doors four short years ago, and within this time have been awarded Best Estate Agent in Northern Ireland, thrice awarded Best Letting Agent in Northern Ireland, all awarded at the UK Estate Agent and Letting Agent Awards, and more prominently named as Northern Irelands Estate Agency of the Year by the Sunday Times. Pinkerton Murray is a company with unprecedented commitment to excellent customer service at its core, and it is with this concept that Pinkerton Murray is delighted to announce it has extended its services by partnering with another dedicated local company One Stop Mortgage Shop.

One Stop Mortgage Shop, who are into their fourteenth year of business, are no stranger to awards themselves having been awarded ‘Northern Ireland’s Top Mortgage Network Firm’ in 2008, 2009 and 2010 with their advisors scooping the cherished accolade of ‘Northern Irelands Top Mortgage Advisor’ each year since. These awards have been awarded to One Stop Mortgage Shop by the UK’s largest mortgage regulator Sesame and are only awarded to the industry’s elite.

This collaboration of services offers Pinkerton Murray’s clients the opportunity to have their financial needs met by Northern Ireland’s leading independent mortgage advisors as well as knowing their property needs are being looked after by a team of experienced professionals. Stephen Murray, Director at Pinkerton Murray enthused “What better way to ensure that people can see that your home is for sale by advertising it in a shopping centre which has over 100,000 visitors each week. With a unit beside unarguably the most frequented shop in Bloomfield, Marks and Spencer, and with our head office on Bangor’s High Street means that no other Estate Agent is better positioned to market your home than Pinkerton Murray”.

Victoria Pinkerton, Managing Director of Pinkerton Murray commented “Meeting the current needs of our clients in an efficient, effective way is paramount. Being able to provide a busy, eye-catching second location for our vendors to showcase their properties and offering excellent independent financial advice all under one roof means we can meet and exceed those needs”. John Todd, Director of One Stop Mortgage Shop continued “It is suggested that moving home is one of the most stressful things that you will ever do, yet on average people move home every three to five years. Joining forces with Northern Ireland’s leading Estate Agent was an excellent way for us to assist those looking to move home as both an Estate Agent and a Mortgage Advisor are integral parts of one being able to do so”.

Jonathan Robb, Director of One Stop Mortgage Shop said “When the opportunity of a joint venture presented itself, the Directors and I all instantly agreed that there was only one Estate Agent that we wanted to align ourselves with. We wanted an agent who is highly respected and puts the needs of their customers first, as do we, and for us Pinkerton Murray was the only option.

As Bloomfield Shopping Centre is open seven days a week why not pay One Stop Mortgage Shop and Pinkerton Murray a visit to see how they can help you move.

Northern Ireland’s Estate Agency of The Year Pinkerton Murray and multi award winning mortgage advisors One Stop Mortgage Shop have collaborated in an effort to make moving home as hassle free as possible.

Pinkerton Murray has seen continued success since opening their doors four short years ago, and within this time have been awarded Best Estate Agent in Northern Ireland, thrice awarded Best Letting Agent in Northern Ireland, all awarded at the UK Estate Agent and Letting Agent Awards, and more prominently named as Northern Irelands Estate Agency of the Year by the Sunday Times. Pinkerton Murray is a company with unprecedented commitment to excellent customer service at its core, and it is with this concept that Pinkerton Murray is delighted to announce it has extended its services by partnering with another dedicated local company One Stop Mortgage Shop.

One Stop Mortgage Shop, who are into their fourteenth year of business, are no stranger to awards themselves having been awarded ‘Northern Ireland’s Top Mortgage Network Firm’ in 2008, 2009 and 2010 with their advisors scooping the cherished accolade of ‘Northern Irelands Top Mortgage Advisor’ each year since. These awards have been awarded to One Stop Mortgage Shop by the UK’s largest mortgage regulator Sesame and are only awarded to the industry’s elite.

This collaboration of services offers Pinkerton Murray’s clients the opportunity to have their financial needs met by Northern Ireland’s leading independent mortgage advisors as well as knowing their property needs are being looked after by a team of experienced professionals. Stephen Murray, Director at Pinkerton Murray enthused “What better way to ensure that people can see that your home is for sale by advertising it in a shopping centre which has over 100,000 visitors each week. With a unit beside unarguably the most frequented shop in Bloomfield, Marks and Spencer, and with our head office on Bangor’s High Street means that no other Estate Agent is better positioned to market your home than Pinkerton Murray”.

Victoria Pinkerton, Managing Director of Pinkerton Murray commented “Meeting the current needs of our clients in an efficient, effective way is paramount. Being able to provide a busy, eye-catching second location for our vendors to showcase their properties and offering excellent independent financial advice all under one roof means we can meet and exceed those needs”. John Todd, Director of One Stop Mortgage Shop continued “It is suggested that moving home is one of the most stressful things that you will ever do, yet on average people move home every three to five years. Joining forces with Northern Ireland’s leading Estate Agent was an excellent way for us to assist those looking to move home as both an Estate Agent and a Mortgage Advisor are integral parts of one being able to do so”.

Jonathan Robb, Director of One Stop Mortgage Shop said “When the opportunity of a joint venture presented itself, the Directors and I all instantly agreed that there was only one Estate Agent that we wanted to align ourselves with. We wanted an agent who is highly respected and puts the needs of their customers first, as do we, and for us Pinkerton Murray was the only option.

As Bloomfield Shopping Centre is open seven days a week why not pay One Stop Mortgage Shop and Pinkerton Murray a visit to see how they can help you move.

There are definite green shoots of recovery within the first time buyers’ market in Greater Belfast according to one of Northern Ireland‘s longest established home builders, Fraser Houses.

Tailored mortgage offers and exceptional deals by developers are helping to encourage first time buyers onto the property ladder in Northern Ireland, according to leading players in the local housing market.

Figures from Fraser Houses, who have built more than 5,000 homes in the last four decades, indicate an emerging confidence in the market from this huge buying sector.

The company has seen a major increase in the level of enquiries resulting in significant sales during recent weeks since the launching of a new price promise.

Paul Fraser of Fraser Houses said today: “Our current price guarantee scheme at Aylesbury in Newtownabbey is aimed at giving buyers who might be sitting on the fence, the security that now really is the time to buy and we will never sell any of these homes for less.

We are confident the interest and increase in sales of these homes are indicative of the growing realisation that the first time market in the Belfast Metropolitan Area has stabilised and can go down no further.

With these prices and some of the current buying options now available, monthly mortgage repayments compare very favourably to rental costs. First time buyers are also being supported by innovative mortgages from Ulster Bank, which has been leading the way in the first time buyer sector.”

Mike Smith, Head of Economics from the University of Ulster , said the evidence pointed towards some ‘green shoots’ for the housing market in the Greater Belfast area.

“These figures are very encouraging. While a more protracted recovery period will be required for other parts of the province, it seems that a stabilisation of property prices in this area of Belfast has begun.”

Ulster Bank has the largest share of the first time buyer mortgage market in Northern Ireland and has been taking the largest share of new mortgage lending as a whole.

Commenting, Derek Wilson, head of lending products at Ulster Bank, said: “With regard to first time buyer activity, our own figures show ongoing steady demand. Ulster Bank accounts for almost one in every two first time buyer mortgages in Northern Ireland. We continue to lead the way in offering innovative solutions for homebuyers through our unique no deposit Momentum Mortgages, alongside Co-Ownership mortgages.”

In the past 18 months Fraser Houses report 110 properties sold at Aylesbury, Mayfield Garden Village in Newtownabbey and only 10 homes still available, with many clients taking advantage of these ‘no deposit’ mortgage offers.

Paul Fraser concluded: “The first time buyer sector is vital to the recovery of the overall housing market. It’s encouraging to see our figures acknowledged as a sign of growth in this sector. These are definitely positive signals.

Bank of Ireland UK today launched Home Advice Week, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland, which will take place from April 1st – 8th April 2011. The week is designed to provide support and information for homebuyers or anyone planning on improving their home with in-branch activity, talks and exhibitions featuring home-related businesses all under one roof.

Research* carried out by Bank of Ireland UK shows that customers value the advice they receive from their bank when it comes to selecting a mortgage. This was particularly high amongst first time buyers, where 84% stated they needed advice when it comes to the mortgage process. Research also highlighted that only 1 in 3 people believe that they know enough to buy a mortgage without seeking any advice.

The bank, which is actively promoting its package of mortgages for homebuyers or those wanting to improve their home has launched a new limited offer FeeSaver mortgage, only available for the month of April, that offers £1,000 cash back, no arrangement fee and no standard valuation fee. The bank will also pay the Higher Lending Charge if it is applicable. The range offers attractive fixed rates over 3 and 5 years.

Pat Byrne, Regional Manager, Bank of Ireland Northern Ireland said: “We are meeting a steady flow of customers every day who want access to expert mortgage advice to help them through each step of the financial aspects of buying, moving, or improving their home. But there is more to it than that, people take great care when it comes to making decisions about their home. That’s why Home Advice Week not only offers solid financial advice to attendees but also offers access to a whole range of experts from interior design to energy saving initiatives to preparing your home for buying or selling. We want to make sure our customers have the very best support and information available to them when it comes to making decisions about their home.”

Bank of Ireland UK will host a free information evening at the Europa Hotel Conference Centre on Thursday 7th April. Starting at 5:30pm there will be an exhibition of local home-related businesses including architects, interior designers, bathroom specialists and home entertainment experts. This will be followed by a panel interview at 7:00pm hosted by broadcaster Stephen Nolan, covering topics such as what to do and not do when buying or selling your home, how to prepare your home for viewing and how to simplify the mortgage process.

There will also be an exhibition in the Foyleside Shopping Centre, Derry from 7 – 9th April 2011 also featuring local home-related businesses and Bank of Ireland UK representatives on hand to answer your queries.

Branch events will also run throughout the week as local businesses such as interior decorators, cabinet makers, estate agents, solicitors and builders will display their products and services to customers. These events will give local businesses direct access to those who are in the market for improving or upgrading their home while also potentially boosting business activity in the community at the same time.

Pat Byrne added: “Bank of Ireland UK has dedicated mortgage advisors on hand to take customers through what can seem like a complex process. Our mortgage advisors can offer advice on everything from the best mortgage to suit your needs, to working out how much you can afford to borrow to preparing yourself to take on a mortgage, all essential questions that customers value our guidance on.”

Speaking at the launch of Home Advice Week, Emma McNally, Managing Director, Propertynews.com said “As Northern Ireland’s No 1 destination for house hunters Propertynews.com are delighted to partner with Bank with Ireland UK for Home Advice Week, which offers home movers and improvers across the Province free access to experts in a number of fields that they mightn’t otherwise get to talk to”.

For more information please visit Bank of Ireland Home Advice Week.

*Research carried out by Stradbury Consultancy Ltd, Feb 2011

Exciting new property makeover series is looking for Britain’s Ugliest Rooms.

Redhouse TV is making a brand new series working with one of Britain’s top TV interior designers.

Do you know someone with a room that desperately needs our help?

Contact 0203 1893406 or e-mail us at property@redhousetv.co.uk

When Rose Kane accidentally discovered a new way to bake bread, which she realised would appeal to children, she decided to turn it into a business. With support from Invest Northern Ireland she developed a home baking kit for kids that produces loaves of bread with logos or doodles on every slice, and so Doodle Bread was born.

Rose, who has a design degree and previously worked as a chef, set up the business with Denis Anscomb, and her husband, Ronan. The business quickly attracted attention and won a national design award.

Doodle Bread operates mainly through an online presence and so far Rose has sold over 1,000 Doodle Bread kits online. “We’ve built up an online community and now also have a presence in retail outlets including the House of Fraser. Our vision is to be the Lego of educational food toys,” says Rose.

With such an ambitious plan Rose felt she needed more support to develop her business skills so signed up for Invest NI’s Propel programme. The programme is designed for entrepreneurs with ideas for businesses that have the potential to scale up and reach significant export growth. Propel provides salary support, initial seed investment, master classes, mentoring from local and international experts, and access to potential investors.

Rose says: “The Propel programme gave me the ability to focus and streamline my thinking. It also helped me get the business ready to seek investor funding. We’ve been awarded the E-Synergy Proof of Concept grant for £40,000 but will be seeking further investment to allow us to develop our range of products. Propel is excellent in that as well as providing group master classes and expert advice, we had access to a mentor on a one-to-one basis, which was invaluable. ”

Invest Northern Ireland is currently looking for entrepreneurs with new fast knowledge based businesses ideas to participate in the Propel programme. The programme is designed for entrepreneurs with ideas for businesses that have the potential to scale up and reach significant export growth.

The deadline for applications for Propel is Friday 15 April 2011 and applications can be made online through the dedicated website www.propelprogramme.co.uk

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Warrenpoint entrepreneur Gabriel Bradley has secured over £500,000 in venture capital investment to help him grow his business, Taskmaestro, following participation in Invest Northern Ireland’s Propel programme.

Mr Bradley, who owns several pizza outlets, set up Taskmaestro to develop and market an interactive touch screen panel, to help manage staff in the hospitality sector. The product, which now has an international patent, is currently being trialled in several high profile outlets. These trials have demonstrated the software can lead to significant cost savings and efficiencies through better management of equipment and energy usage.

“From the experience of running my own pizza outlets I noticed that staff often forget or neglect to carry out their core duties, especially when the manager is not around to remind them. That’s where the inspiration for Taskmaestro came from,” says Mr Bradley.

“Taskmaestro is ideally positioned to take advantage of emerging market opportunities such as the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS), introduced by the Food Standards Agency for food businesses in March. My software can help businesses meet the highest standards through better process and task management. My own trials have already achieved a 5 star rating in my own outlets both of which use the software. My ambition for the company now is to grow turnover to over £5 million per annum within the next five years. This venture capital funding investment is essential to achieving that,” he adds.

Taking part in the Propel programme helped Mr Bradley to focus on getting his new technology business up and running and learn how to build a strong value proposition which would appeal to venture capitalists.

“Propel was a unique and very useful experience for me. It gave me the opportunity to take a step back and look at the big picture. This allowed me to see the real potential of my idea and build a business plan focused on export sales and growth which I have subsequently used to secure finance,” he says.

Propel is designed for entrepreneurs with ideas for businesses that have the potential to scale up and reach significant export growth. The programme provides salary support, master classes, mentoring from local and international experts, and access to potential investors.

Ian Murphy, Invest NI’s Managing Director of Clients and Entrepreneurship, says: “Taskmaestro is just one of several innovative companies that have benefitted from our Propel programme. Venture capital funding is vital for hi-tech, early stage businesses and the Propel programme, by helping businesses become investor ready and introducing them to potential investors , helps make that valuable link between the business idea and business success.”

The Propel programme is now open for applications. The closing date for applications, which can be made online at www.propelprogramme.co.uk , is 4pm Friday 15 April 2011.

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Propel programme helps Rose’s business bloom

Invest Northern Ireland announced that its highly successful Propel programme, which supports new export focused, knowledge intensive businesses, is now open for new applications.

Propel is designed for entrepreneurs with ideas for businesses that have the potential to scale up and reach significant export growth. It has already helped over eighteen local entrepreneurs to establish and grow businesses based on innovative ideas, products and technology.

One such business is Aqueo, set up by former Propel participant, John Davies. Aqueo helps businesses deal with surplus inventory by reprocessing, remarketing and distributing it. This helps the businesses increase stock sales, ease cash flow, reduce costs and release funds tied up in problem assets.

According to Mr Davies, taking part in the Propel programme had a significant impact on his company’s progress: “The Propel programme has been instrumental in taking my business from an armchair dream to a fully-functioning, investor ready business,” he says.

“Without the support and expertise it has provided I would still be working full time for someone else, instead of employing other people. Before the programme I had no idea how to go about achieving funding or how to properly deliver the messages about my business that generate interest and help it grow.”

In the last few weeks Aqueo has taken on its first employee, won the ‘Propel Business that has made the most progress’ award in 2011, secured initial venture capital investment and is in ongoing discussions with additional potential investors.

Ian Murphy, Invest NI’s Managing Director of Clients and Entrepreneurship, says: “To create a dynamic, knowledge-led economy in Northern Ireland we need to support entrepreneurs who have novel business ideas with significant export potential. The Propel programme helps entrepreneurs develop the necessary business skills, expertise, contacts and facilities to establish a successful business for the international market.”

Propel provides salary support, initial seed investment, master classes, mentoring from local and international experts, and access to potential investors. It helps participants to maximise the commercial potential of their ideas and generate the best possible return for themselves and the local economy.

The deadline for applications for Propel is 4pm Friday 15 April 2011. The applications can be made online through the dedicated website www.propelprogramme.co.uk .

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Propel Programme Paves the Way for Investor Funding for New Business

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